Camera recomendation
Discussion
Hi,
I'll admit to knowing nothing about photography. Got a couple of trips coming up soon where I'll be travelling alone so just had a thought that it would be nice to take a camera rather than using the phone.
Must be relatively compact. Ideally a beginners item as I'll prob use 'auto' for the majority of the time unless I get into the hobby more. Very keen to have something WiFi enabled or better with a direct Dropbox upload.
I'll probably be taking photographs of bridges, buildings or stationary cars.
A quick goggle brought up a Nikon Coolpix. Not sure if that would be suitable.
Budget £300
Any recommendations?
Thanks
I'll admit to knowing nothing about photography. Got a couple of trips coming up soon where I'll be travelling alone so just had a thought that it would be nice to take a camera rather than using the phone.
Must be relatively compact. Ideally a beginners item as I'll prob use 'auto' for the majority of the time unless I get into the hobby more. Very keen to have something WiFi enabled or better with a direct Dropbox upload.
I'll probably be taking photographs of bridges, buildings or stationary cars.
A quick goggle brought up a Nikon Coolpix. Not sure if that would be suitable.
Budget £300
Any recommendations?
Thanks
Rick - you'll probably not find much help on here as most of the keen photographers use interchangeable lens systems (ie SLR/DSLR/Compact System etc) rather than the compact cameras you are looking at. The most frequently recommended compact is a Sony RX100 - which is probably just about the top end of your range or maybe just above for one of the older (but still excellent) versions. They have a nice big 1 inch sensor and a really sharp and 'fast' lens so will give great results - But... probably take a bit more getting used to than a simple point and shoot so it really depends how serious you want to get. Not sure about w-fi connections and the like.
Good Luck
Good Luck
Thanks for that.
I was initially thinking of the larger bodied compacts like the Coolpix but the smaller compact like the Sony you suggest would have the added benefit of being able to slip into a pocket of my travel bag rather than being carried around separately.
I probably need to do more research but I'll have a browse in town Monday and if I find something I may be able to pick up a deal at the airport Tue on departure.
Thanks
I was initially thinking of the larger bodied compacts like the Coolpix but the smaller compact like the Sony you suggest would have the added benefit of being able to slip into a pocket of my travel bag rather than being carried around separately.
I probably need to do more research but I'll have a browse in town Monday and if I find something I may be able to pick up a deal at the airport Tue on departure.
Thanks
The go-to choices for travel Cameras are the Canon Powershot SX720HS which has a 40x zoom and the Panasonic TZ90 which has the same.
Of the two, the Canon Connect app seems better at downloading as it transmits its own wi-fi signal to transfer stuff to tablet or phone (seems to need a lead for a windows 7 computer and you need the respective browser which is downloadable for free). No cameras have a wi-fi card, like a phone, you need to connect to available wi-fi. The Canon wi-fi only enables transfer to another device so you can then post or send via wi-fi.
There are lesser and cheaper older variants of these cameras - I had a Panasonic TZ30 for ages before buying the Canon SX700HS and there have been TZ40, TZ60, TZ70 and TZ80 (one of those has less megapixels, I think its the 70). The Panasonic has a far better menu selection for sunsets etc and has a panorama shot which the Canon hasn't - at least not on mine.
The Canon is very well built - I have dropped mine onto concrete twice and into loose sand once but with lots of shaking, tapping and so forth, it is a bit dented but still works efficiently. Can't say the same for the Panasonic....which costs more, I should add.
The "next class up" is the 1" sensor brigade with the Panasonic TZ100 which I also have but these suffer with shorter zooms (x10), feel a lot heavier and the zoom is slower. A smaller zoom gives a less fishbowl effect to photos though. So for a travel camera, I'd be looking at the Canon SX720HS (or 700 or 710 but these often cost more) or the Panasonic TZ80 or 90. For your purposes, which are much the same as mine, I would look for the best deal which seems to be the Canon at under £200 at Currys. If that panorama function is important, they have the TZ80 for £269.
Desirable features on a travel camera, that all mine lack is a tilting screen for selfies, very useful for solo trips as you can frame your own shot but juts watch the weight and size as pocket size doesn't mean it won't pull your pants down.
Haven't tried the other compact cameras so can't really comment. I know the Panasonic and Canon cameras get good reviews for quality of photo.
The other thing to budget for is (a) the memory card - I use a Sandisk 16Gb 45MB/s in the Canon and a 64Gb 90Mb/s in my TZ100 so don't skimp on the card but I have never come close to filling either so 16 should do it (b) a spare battery if you're going to be using it for long or frequent use between charges. If you charge regularly, it's rarely an issue and (c) some form of case - get the smallest case the camera will fit into or you lose the portability gain. I have Crumpler cases but since the Canon fits into a smaller Gem case, I use that.
Of the two, the Canon Connect app seems better at downloading as it transmits its own wi-fi signal to transfer stuff to tablet or phone (seems to need a lead for a windows 7 computer and you need the respective browser which is downloadable for free). No cameras have a wi-fi card, like a phone, you need to connect to available wi-fi. The Canon wi-fi only enables transfer to another device so you can then post or send via wi-fi.
There are lesser and cheaper older variants of these cameras - I had a Panasonic TZ30 for ages before buying the Canon SX700HS and there have been TZ40, TZ60, TZ70 and TZ80 (one of those has less megapixels, I think its the 70). The Panasonic has a far better menu selection for sunsets etc and has a panorama shot which the Canon hasn't - at least not on mine.
The Canon is very well built - I have dropped mine onto concrete twice and into loose sand once but with lots of shaking, tapping and so forth, it is a bit dented but still works efficiently. Can't say the same for the Panasonic....which costs more, I should add.
The "next class up" is the 1" sensor brigade with the Panasonic TZ100 which I also have but these suffer with shorter zooms (x10), feel a lot heavier and the zoom is slower. A smaller zoom gives a less fishbowl effect to photos though. So for a travel camera, I'd be looking at the Canon SX720HS (or 700 or 710 but these often cost more) or the Panasonic TZ80 or 90. For your purposes, which are much the same as mine, I would look for the best deal which seems to be the Canon at under £200 at Currys. If that panorama function is important, they have the TZ80 for £269.
Desirable features on a travel camera, that all mine lack is a tilting screen for selfies, very useful for solo trips as you can frame your own shot but juts watch the weight and size as pocket size doesn't mean it won't pull your pants down.
Haven't tried the other compact cameras so can't really comment. I know the Panasonic and Canon cameras get good reviews for quality of photo.
The other thing to budget for is (a) the memory card - I use a Sandisk 16Gb 45MB/s in the Canon and a 64Gb 90Mb/s in my TZ100 so don't skimp on the card but I have never come close to filling either so 16 should do it (b) a spare battery if you're going to be using it for long or frequent use between charges. If you charge regularly, it's rarely an issue and (c) some form of case - get the smallest case the camera will fit into or you lose the portability gain. I have Crumpler cases but since the Canon fits into a smaller Gem case, I use that.
Edited by LuS1fer on Saturday 23 June 18:11
Whatever you get also buy a cheap monopod - it'll help you take better picture be reducing blur due shake and wobble etc.
My family members and self (when I borrowed it) found the Canon Powershot to be very good. We all have DLSRs now but I also have an Olympus Tough - handy for travel because it's waterproof and can be dropped without being wrecked (dropping height dependable).
My family members and self (when I borrowed it) found the Canon Powershot to be very good. We all have DLSRs now but I also have an Olympus Tough - handy for travel because it's waterproof and can be dropped without being wrecked (dropping height dependable).
Another recommendation for a Panasonic TZ. Mine is robust, light, quite small and takes good images. I also have a Panasonic G7 but tend to use the TZ more as it is so convenient.
The 90 - 30x zoom and 20mp image - comes almost in budget, and the 70 is much cheaper but has to make do with 12mp.
Go to a camera shop and handle them, that's an important aspect. If it feels wrong I tend to think it is wrong.
I'm well pleased with my TZ.
The 90 - 30x zoom and 20mp image - comes almost in budget, and the 70 is much cheaper but has to make do with 12mp.
Go to a camera shop and handle them, that's an important aspect. If it feels wrong I tend to think it is wrong.
I'm well pleased with my TZ.
Weslake-Monza said:
Whatever you get also buy a cheap monopod - it'll help you take better picture be reducing blur due shake and wobble etc.
I'd also add a very small travel tripod. Will allow you to set it on self timer and get yourself in the photo.Something like this - you'd hardly notice it in your bag.
Had a quick visit to York Camera Mart.
They recommended Panasonic and the Sony over the Cannon saying much better lens or glass, nit sure of the correct terminology. Its was Lecia or Zweiss I think.
I though the Sony was nice and compact but almost seems too small for my big clumsy hands.
They were offering the TZ 80 at £249. They did explain it wasn't an auto WiFi upload like my phone uploads everything to Dropbox but requires a manual interaction each time. I am a little surprised this feature is not available.
They recommended Panasonic and the Sony over the Cannon saying much better lens or glass, nit sure of the correct terminology. Its was Lecia or Zweiss I think.
I though the Sony was nice and compact but almost seems too small for my big clumsy hands.
They were offering the TZ 80 at £249. They did explain it wasn't an auto WiFi upload like my phone uploads everything to Dropbox but requires a manual interaction each time. I am a little surprised this feature is not available.
Just to close this off. Phoned YCM after my visit and asked if they would include a basic case. They said they would so went back and did a deal at £249.99 for the Panasonic TZ80 and a Hama case.
YCM have a reputation for being expensive but I didn't think the price was too bad add to that the advice they gave. I probably could have found it cheaper but I wouldn't have had it for my trip tomorrow.
I did consider a newer phone with improved camera such as the Huawei but it would be double or even triple the cost I imagine. I also considered the TZ90 with flip screen for upskirt mode but apparently you can get in bother for that these days so didn't seem worth the extra (£320).
Thanks for the advice. Hamburg tomorrow, lots of bridges I understand. Will have a read of the manual and try and start learning this photography lark.
YCM have a reputation for being expensive but I didn't think the price was too bad add to that the advice they gave. I probably could have found it cheaper but I wouldn't have had it for my trip tomorrow.
I did consider a newer phone with improved camera such as the Huawei but it would be double or even triple the cost I imagine. I also considered the TZ90 with flip screen for upskirt mode but apparently you can get in bother for that these days so didn't seem worth the extra (£320).
Thanks for the advice. Hamburg tomorrow, lots of bridges I understand. Will have a read of the manual and try and start learning this photography lark.
Rick101 said:
Had a quick visit to York Camera Mart.
They recommended Panasonic and the Sony over the Cannon saying much better lens or glass, nit sure of the correct terminology. Its was Lecia or Zweiss I think.
I though the Sony was nice and compact but almost seems too small for my big clumsy hands.
They were offering the TZ 80 at £249. They did explain it wasn't an auto WiFi upload like my phone uploads everything to Dropbox but requires a manual interaction each time. I am a little surprised this feature is not available.
The tests give a marginal advantage to the Canon images so I wouldn't pay too much heed to the hype but they all look alike when posted online.For me, the Canon's independent wi-fi is a bonus for transfer to phone or tablet but you've still made a great choice and the panorama and sub-menu are definitely better on the Panny. The manual upload is because these cameras don't have an internet browser and, let's be fair, many phones are bigger than these cameras.They recommended Panasonic and the Sony over the Cannon saying much better lens or glass, nit sure of the correct terminology. Its was Lecia or Zweiss I think.
I though the Sony was nice and compact but almost seems too small for my big clumsy hands.
They were offering the TZ 80 at £249. They did explain it wasn't an auto WiFi upload like my phone uploads everything to Dropbox but requires a manual interaction each time. I am a little surprised this feature is not available.
Far too many settings on this 'basic' camera for me to get my head around! Surprised how much tech is in it.
Have enjoyed using it so far. Certainly see the benefit of a neck strap. every time I put it away I'm getting it out again.
Used mainly auto so far. Had a go with a few of the preset options and have tried the extremes of ISO and warm/cold balance.
Classic LM next week so will be nice to try snapping some different stuff.
Have enjoyed using it so far. Certainly see the benefit of a neck strap. every time I put it away I'm getting it out again.
Used mainly auto so far. Had a go with a few of the preset options and have tried the extremes of ISO and warm/cold balance.
Classic LM next week so will be nice to try snapping some different stuff.
Rick101 said:
Far too many settings on this 'basic' camera for me to get my head around! Surprised how much tech is in it.
Have enjoyed using it so far. Certainly see the benefit of a neck strap. every time I put it away I'm getting it out again.
Used mainly auto so far. Had a go with a few of the preset options and have tried the extremes of ISO and warm/cold balance.
Classic LM next week so will be nice to try snapping some different stuff.
Play with it. That's the massive advantage digital has over film - assessment can be instant and if it's not what you want, you can have another go. Have enjoyed using it so far. Certainly see the benefit of a neck strap. every time I put it away I'm getting it out again.
Used mainly auto so far. Had a go with a few of the preset options and have tried the extremes of ISO and warm/cold balance.
Classic LM next week so will be nice to try snapping some different stuff.
I bought a G7 a year ago and I've taken so many test shots of my garden that, had I been interested in taking photographs of gardens, I'd be one of the best photographers of gardens in the country.
The different modes and such can be useful when you are taking a series of shots of the same subject, but only if you know what each do. There's a fair bit on YouTube for the techie bits.
Enjoy finding things out. They're very clever.
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